#8 Terps Beat Buckeyes, 67-55, in Challenge

Maryland Athletics

12-4-2013

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball beat Ohio State, 67-55, Wednesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. With the win, Maryland is the only school in either conference to stay unbeaten in Challenge play, going 7-0 since 2007.

Preseason ACC Player of the Year Alyssa Thomas led the Terps (8-1) with her eighth straight double-double and 46th of her career with 25 points and 12 rebounds. She went 9-for-11 from the foul line. Sophomore Tierney Pfirman added a career-high 10 boards and all 10 Terrapins that saw action scored in the victory.

The Terrapins led by three points at the break before returning to make their first four shots as part of an 11-2 run that made it 40-28. Thomas scored six points in the spree and redshirt sophomore Brene Moseley sank Maryland's first 3-pointer of the game.

Ohio State (6-4) closed to 56-53 with 2:58 left, but a 3-pointer by freshman Lexie Brown, a layup by Moseley and two free throws by Thomas ended the suspense.

"We hope to bring that success over to the Big Ten in terms of our undefeated record. We want to keep that rolling," Terrapins head coach Brenda Frese said. "I'm really proud. Obviously, two power conferences, you talk about how many times we had to go on the road to win in this Challenge as well as win here at home in the last matchup. Just great pride. As I told our team, they got to put their mark and be part of this. When you talk about their legacy, that's important."

Ameryst Alston scored 18, and Cait Craft and Matina Ellerbe had 11 apiece for the Buckeyes.